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Todd Shipyard Alameda Naval Shipyard

The Todd Shipyards Corporation was launched in June 1916 with the financial backing of Grecisms, Bertron & Company, White, Weld & Company, and William H. Todd. The association itself was a product of the merging of three established companies: Robins Dry Dock & Repair Company, Seattle Construction & Dry Dock Company, and Tietjen & Long Dry Dock Company. The namesake of the enterprise is the late William Henry Todd, who united the primary Erie Basin shipbuilding manufacturers, the John N. Robins Company, in 1895. Todd’s persistence and business prowess earned him the president's seat of the company on December 31, 1909. With the aid of supporters, Todd purchased the Erie Basin shipyard from the Thomas Clyde family, the proprietors of Robins Dry Dock & Repair Company, to keep it from falling into the hands of the British. Todd intended to expand his recently formed William H. Todd Corporation, and in 1916, the corporation accumulated two more yards. Todd strategically incorporated Eric Basin's biggest rival in the New York Harbor, Tietjen & Lang Dry Dock Company. The additional yard was on the western coast, a rugged iron and steel shipbuilding-company, Seattle Construction & Dry Dock Company. This innovative corporation succeeded and merged many more yards at each American coast and even yards overseas. These yards were located in California, Maine, Louisiana, Texas, Washington, Alabama, Maine, and London and many other water-driven industrial locations.

War times brought much work to Todd shipyards, usually calling for growth. This expansion and incorporation of new yards decreased the family spirit that William H. Todd encouraged and worked so hard to maintain. In prosperous years, the Todd Corporation distributed publications including the magazine, The Keel, in print from 1918-1944. Todd also published the Todd Daily Maritime and The Bridge, but during lean times, abandoned them to cut expenses. In the early years, festivities were held embracing the entire family with parades and social events to honor long-time workers.

Though the Depression was one of the most difficult times in the company's history, the company did not go under after the crash of the stock market, as Todd Shipyards Corporation was saved by repair work and an increase in orders on the onset of the Second World War. From December 7, 1941 through August 31, 1945, Todd yards manufactured, converted, and repaired 23,450 ships amongst the five shipyards and five repair shipyards. Out of the many vessels that saw the docks of Todd Shipyards Corporation, there were large and small and more than forty military and commercial types. The most impressive statistic was the entire tonnage, measuring 117,500,000.

In 1975, Todd Corporation saw some of the harshest times since the Depression. These difficult times were mainly due to inflation and a continuation of bad luck in its diversification investments. In the same year, Arthur W. Stout, Jr. was named president of the corporation. With refinancing, the company was placed back on its feet. Its president and CEO today is Stephen G Welch, who presides over Todd Shipbuilding Corporation as it endeavors to strive on in a narrowing industry.

Since Todd Shipyard Corporation has many entities beneath it, its shipyards, just as others built before the 1980s, are included in the battles against asbestos. These yards used a wide range of asbestos-containing materials. Unfortunately, many Californians were directly exposed to asbestos in its shipyards. Results of this exposure have many residents being diagnosed with asbestos related diseases. During the performance of duties, a massive number of workers were unaware of the threat from the hazardous material. Those who have been affected by dangerous asbestos fibers include plumbers, electricians, insulators, boil makers, ironworkers, and pipe fitters. Facemasks, protective clothing, and gloves were rarely issued to help keep the employees safe from these harmful materials. While repairing and assembling the large vessels, workers were exposed to asbestos-containing boilers, pipe covering, pumps, cement, cement, gaskets, and many other products containing asbestos.

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos at this facility we can help. Please fill out a form for a free online brochure or call us directly at 1-800-532-3764.

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